Complete venues on time
The nominee for Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, has no time to rest if Kenya is to successfully host the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) that was delayed to 2025 and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The country will have its third Cabinet Secretary for Sports in four months after President William Ruto nominated Mvurya to replace Kipchumba Murkomen, who moves to Interior Ministry on Thursday.
It's only in August this year that Murkomen was sworn in as the new Sports Cabinet Secretary, taking over from Ababu Namwamba, who had served since September 2022.
While the frequent reshuffle has created a wave of uncertainty and instability at Talanta Plaza, there is no time to waste for Mvurya considering the busy sporting season ahead for the country.
Mvurya moves into Talanta Plaza when the country is undertaking crucial projects with the 2025 CHAN and 2027 AFCON topping the menu.
The country has also officially applied to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships after its first attempt to stage the 2025 failed, losing to Japanese capital, Tokyo. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, who visited the country yesterday, might be happy with the progress made concerning the two major venues that will host 2025 CHAN but shouldn't be a call for celebrations.
The renovations going on at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium must be hastened professionally so as to beat the December 31 deadline set by CAF.
Kenya will co-host the 2025 CHAN and 2027 AFCON with Tanzania and Uganda.
The country can't again afford to go through another embarrassing moment after it failed to host the 1996 AFCON and 2018 CHAN due to lack of proper facilities despite winning the bids.
